Student protest at graduation leads to involvement by ACLU

By NEWS 10&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Sat 12:10 AM, May 18, 2019&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Sat 12:13 AM, May 18, 2019

LANSING, MI (WILX) - One Arizona high school student wanted to stand up for her Native American culture during her graduation ceremony with a graduation cap decorated with beads that are important to her heritage.

But her school's vice principal stopped her at the door and said it is the district's policy that no graduation caps can be decorated and she could not walk at graduation unless she wore a blank cap.

Larissa Waln, the student, and her family stood outside the ceremony in protest.

The American Civil Liberties Union is now getting involved.

The ACLU has sent the school district a four-page letter citing Arizona's Religious Freedom laws and said keeping Waln from participating in her graduation ceremony was "unlawful."

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